Answering a higher call

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Xavier Lockley
  • 927th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, FLA --  MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -Months, weeks and days had gone by since Senior Airman Vincent Melchiorri, 927th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief submitted his application for Officer Training School. Once notified of his selection, the long process seemed well worth it.

"It was a really long process, which took me six months of putting together the package to apply, then going out and conducting interviews and to finally get selected  is truly a blessing and I'm thankful for that," he said. "It was a great day once I got that call," said Melchiorri.

Prior to being accepted for OTS, Melchiorri was a former active duty Airman who decided to Palace Chase into the Air Force Reserves. He insists that there was plenty of risk involved in the move, but the potential rewards were too great to pass on the opportunity.

"I took a big risk leaving the steady paycheck, and financial stability that active duty can provide, but I ultimately decided to pursue a new career in the Air Force that I always wanted to," said Melchiorri." I chose to take a big leap of faith, and I worked extremely hard to get to this point." 

Being an enlisted member of the Air Force has taught Melchiorri some valuable lessons, ones that will continue to stay with him as he becomes a commissioned officer.

"I think having an enlisted perspective always helps whenever a member transfers over into the officer tier," he said. "I am always going to keep the skills that being an Airman has provided for me," said Melchiorri."